Two outgoing chairpersons try their luck again in Kalamassery, Eloor municipalities

Rival fronts are leaving no stone unturned in the fight for Kalamassery and Eloor municipalities; This time, the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) are putting forward the outgoing presidents as candidates.

Congress’ Seema Kannan, who became Kalamassery municipality mayor by lottery in 2020, is trying her luck in ward 11 in this election. AD Sujil, who became the Eloor municipality chairman after winning the previous election from ward 11, will test his voter ID for the third time, this time from ward 5.

Ms Kannan assumed the chairmanship in 2020 amid dramatic events after the UDF and LDF were tied with 20 seats each in the 42-member council. He was elected by lottery, with the UDF coming to power amidst a narrow majority with the support of Independent candidates. He survived the opposition’s no-confidence motion in December 2022, due to the lack of votes needed to oust him. He gave confidence that he would overcome the possibility of removal as the UDF has been in power in the municipality for almost three decades. He claimed that “UDF rule has succeeded in improving infrastructural facilities in the municipality”.

Mr Sujil remains hopeful of countering the anti-incumbency trend as the Left has been in power in Eloor municipality since 2015. Despite serving as a councilor for two consecutive terms in 2015 and 2020, Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] He decided to put him back on the field because of the interesting three-cornered fight that had arisen in the civilian structure. He said that the left administration was able to implement various developmental works in the wards. He said that the municipality has also made progress in the industrial sector with the support of the Left government.